The windows of jewelers, galleries, and banks are alarmed and fitted with toughened glass. The disadvantage is that the pane, or part of the pane, needs to break before the alarm is triggered. An innovative alarm system from researchers at the Fraunhofer institutes INT and IPMS, however, can detect even an attempt to manipulate a window. The system can register both temperature changes and impacts on the glass in real time – meaning that burglars don’t stand a chance. Even a gentle hit against the toughened glass or manipulation using a flame is enough to trigger the alarm. The application of force changes the mechanical properties of the pane, and the new system can register this. The anti-break-in protection now exists as a demonstrator.